Beyoncé's 18-carat Lorraine Schwartz isan investment, more than doubling its value in 2 years

Here are four ways to stand out:1- GET COLOR-CODED

Personally, I opted for a yellow fancy cushion-cut number encircled by two rows of pave diamonds; a show-stopper without looking too show-offy. If this is what you had in mind, check out Cartier Destinée and Tiffany Soleste. Not particularly my style but there's also Van Cleef Pierre de Couleur for that extra flash factor.

2- INVEST IN A PATENTReese Witherspoon sports a rare 4-carat Ashoka-cut engagement ring. The Ashoka, patented by US jeweler William
Goldberg, has a total of 62 facets surpassing the iconic Tiffany Lucida’s 50 facets. Scarcity of
extra-long rectangulars in antique cushion-cut explains the high cost and
demand of the Ashoka diamond. If you're more of a solitaire kinda gal, go for
the Blaze cut patented by Bez Ambar which creates brilliance with fewer, but larger
facets.

Reese Witherspoon's 4-carat rare Ashoka-cut diamond

3- GROW A CONSCIENCE

A Kimberley certificate is now accepted as the gold standard for conflict-free
rough diamonds globally.In parallel, according to Foreign Policy, nearly all the world’s diamonds pass through this
one Indian city- Surat, the world’s hub for cutting and polishing diamonds, and for the world’s illegal stones. Point is, you can’t ever be a 100% certain about
the ethical value of your diamond but you sure can try to raise awareness. Start
with the Fairtrade foundation website which enlists jewelers who only work with
Fairtrade materials. Also, watch Bob Sinclar’s World Hold On, Kanye West's Diamonds Are Forever, and of course the movie Blood Diamond.

4- BE BESPOKEAnd if you still can’t decide what you want, go bespoke with De Beers, the ultimate Diamond Marketeer. Remember the famous tagline from their ad "How can you make two months' salary last forever?"Also singularly responsible for the nightmares of boyfriends world over. De Beers offers a service For You Forever where you get to commission your one of a kind ring just for you.

Latest in De Beers iconic series of campaigns

Now we see that when Marilyn Monroe said diamonds are a girl’s friend, she was
a simple gal after all.